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    Final Thoughts

    Written by John Packard


    The CME Group announced it had record volumes for its NYMEX U.S. Midwest Hot-Rolled Coil Steel Index futures (HRC) and options (HRO). During the month of February HRC futures recorded 6,619 contracts eclipsing the previous record set in January 2012 of 6,214 contracts. At the same time HRO (options) contracts which have only been available for a much shorter time than HRC futures – traded 1,350 contracts, surpassing the previous monthly high of 1,000 set in August 2012.

    If you would like to learn more about the HRC and HRO (along with the BUS – which is ferrous scrap futures using AMM Midwest #1 Busheling) derivatives markets.  How to use the products – and not use the products – Steel Market Update and Andre Marshall, CEO of Crunch Risk, LLC along with the CME Group will be holding a Managing Price Risk workshop at the NYMEX in New York City on Friday, April 26, 2013. Information about the program and registration for the workshop is on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com in the Events section (just click on the banner at the top when the workshop pops up).

    Latest in Product

    Scrap export market activity perks up

    There has been an upsurge in Turkish deep-sea scrap buying over the last week for December shipment. Prices paid increased but not as much as the trade expected.cDuring the last week, Turkey-based steelmakers bought at least seven cargoes, largely from the UK and Northern European suppliers, while virtually shunning higher priced US scrap. The initial wave of sales of HMS 80/20 ranged from $395-$398.50 per metric ton (mt) on a CFR basis. This equated to an average increase of less than $5/mt. The was one cargo bought later at $401/mt from this region.

    Algoma lands record steel order for Seaspan icebreakers

    Algoma Steel has secured a contract to supply up to 24,000 metric tons of structural steel plate for Seaspan Shipyards’ Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker program. The agreement, valued at about $182 million Canadian, covers steel for up to six multi-purpose icebreakers, at ~4,000 metric tons per vessel. Algoma will produce the plate, with Stigterstaal Canada serving as the marine steel processing and distribution partner. The order is the largest polar-class steel order in Algoma’s history, according to the companies.

    Commerce amends duties on pipe and tube imports

    The US Department of Commerce recently made adjustments to the anti-dumping duties (AD) on certain steel pipe and tube imports after annual administrative reviews, according to notices in the Federal Register. Commerce reviewed the AD order on imports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Mexico and lowered the dumping rate for one company. Tubos de Acero de Mexico received a 1.87% dumping rate for the year ended Oct. 31, 2024. The rate is down notably from 26.1% in the previous year. The all-others cash deposit rate remains set at 44.93%.

    US tweaks import duties on Korean plate

    After an annual administrative review, the US Department of Commerce is adjusting the countervailing duties (CVDs) on imports of cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from South Korea. For the 2024 calendar year, Commerce set CVDs of 1.89% for Dongkuk Steel Mill and 1.39% for Hyundai Steel, according to a Federal Register announcement. The rates have changed slightly from the prior year review: Dongkuk's is down from 2.21% and Hyundai's is up from 1.31%. The cash deposit rate for all other companies remains 3.26%.

    Ternium plans February start for new slab mill, sees Mexico prices rising

    Ternium SA expects a modest seasonal decline in consolidated steel shipments in the fourth quarter, but sees Mexico revenue per ton continuing to rise with North American steel price trends. The outlook came as the company released its third-quarter earnings report and prepares to start steel shop production at its new Pesqueria slab mill in February. “We are seeing a strong demand in Mexico … strong demand in the US,” CEO Maximo Vedoya said on a conference call on Wednesday to discuss the quarterly earnings. Ternium reported Q3’26 net income of $368 million, compared with $465 million in Q2’26 and a $270-million loss in Q3’25.